Protective shield for furniture



Sept. 26, 1939. o. A. SMITH PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR FURNITURE Filed April 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 26, 1939. o. A. SMITH PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR FURNITURE Filed April 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W 9 E l U U Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR FURNITURE Orrian A. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,125

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for protecting furniture and the like from injury during shipment, storage and handling and relates more particularly to protective coverings or shields for 6 furniture and like articles. A general object of this invention is to provide simple inexpensive and eifective protective coverings or shields of the character referred to.

When upholstered furniture is to be shipped, 10 stored or subjected to considerable handling it is usually necessary to protect the arms, back and other parts of the pieces of furniture against injury by heavy blows, friction, careless handling, dirt, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple one-piece protective covering element or shield that may be easily and quickly applied to the back, arms and other parts of a piece of furniture to protect the same against injury. .30 Another object of this invention is to provide a protective covering or shield of the character mentioned that is cut, shaped and pre-scored to be readily applied and to be easily shaped to conform to furniture parts of various sizes and configurations.

Another object of this invention is to provide furniture coverings or shields of the character mentioned that embody means-or parts for facilitating their rapid yet secure attachment to the furniture articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective coverings or shields of the character referred to that may be supplied to the users in the form of compact fiat sheets that are light in weight and readily shipped and handled.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective coverings or shields for furniture and the like that may be applied and removed without marking, soiling, defacing or otherwise injuring the furniture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protective covering or shield that is adapted to fully enclose and cover the ends, top and corners of the back, arm or a similar part of an article of furniture to adequately protect the same against injury.

A further object of this invention is to provide protective coverings or shields for furniture that are simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other Objects and features of my invention will be better and more. fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a typical upholstered chair illustrating the protective shields of the invention arranged thereon. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of a typical upholstered davenport with several shields of the invention thereon. Fig. 3 is an end View of the chair shown in Fig. 1. Fig 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the chair with a portion broken away to illustrate the manner in which the cushion retaining band is held in the chair structure. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of another article of upholstered furniture showing one of the shields of the invention arranged thereon and Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the protective coverings or shields in its normal or original state.

The furniture coverings or shields of the pres ent invention may be employed to cover and protect articles of furniture, etc., of various natures and may be varied somewhat to adapt them for use on different articles. In the following detailed description I will describe a typical preferred form of the invention as employed on upholstered chairs and an upholstered davenport. It is to be understood that the invention is not to-b-e construed as limited or restricted to the specific form or applications of the invention about to be described but that it is to be taken as including any features or modifications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

It is believed that the manner of applying and using the coverings or shields of the invention will be better understood following a detailed description of one of the shields in its original condition and I will proceed with a description of the typical protective covering or shield of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The improved covering element or protective shield of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings comprises, generally, a sheet-like body In having series of cuts or slots II and series of lines of scoring l2 and I3 to condition it for shaping and folding, and cuts [4 providing the body II! with attaching tabs or straps l5.

The covering body or shield body Ii] is in the nature of a square or rectangular sheet of fibrous material such as cardboard, paper, felt, fabric, or the like. In practice it has been found desir- 5 able to form the body IU of double-faced corrugated paper board or fibre board. The material of which the body I0 is formed is of sufficient strength to resist the blows and friction to which it may be subjected and yet it is sufiiciently pliable to be shaped, bent and folded without cracking. As illustrated in the drawings the body I0 is substantially square in plan View, it being understood that it may be elongate or rectangular as conditions may require. The margins or edges I5 of the body I0 are preferably straight and at right angles to one another.

The cuts or slots II are provided in the body I!) to facilitate the shaping or forming of the body If! to extend over corners, edges, etc., of furniture parts and to facilitate the attachment of the body It to the furniture. There are preferably two series of slots II provided in the body I0, the slots entering the body from two opposite edges I6. The cuts or slots II of a series are parallel and are at right angles to the adjacent body edge I6. In the typical form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 there are eight slots II in each of two opposite edge portions of the body I0, each series having four slots spaced at each side of a central or medial plane of the body. The spacing of the slots H in a series may be Varied to suit the conditions of use. In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a typical preferred arrangement of slots II in which the slots II in adjacent relation to the above-mentioned medial plane are in closer relation than the slots which are more remote from the said medial plane. The cuts or slots II at the opposite edges or side portions of the body I II are in longitudinal alignment. In making or providing the slots II it is preferred to remove or cut out strips of the body material so that the slots II are open as illustrated in the drawings. The slots I I just described provide two opposite edge portions of the body IE with pluralities of adjacent elongate tabs 0r flaps II of varying or graduated width. It Will be observed that the portions of the body In between the outermost slots II and the adjacent parallel body edge It constitute rather wide corner tabs or flaps IS.

The lines I2 of scoring extend between and connect the longitudinally aligned slots II in the two opposite edge portions of the body I0. lines I2 extend completely across the body I0 from the inner ends of the slots II of one series to the inner ends of the slots II of the other series of slots. The lines I2 may be formed or provided in any manner that facilitates the bending or folding of the body I!) at these lines. The lines I2 of scoring are such that the body IIJ may be folded or bent along them without cracking or tearing. In accordance with the invention the shield body II] is provided with the .lines I3 of bending or scoring extending in right angled relation to the above described lines I2. There are two sets of lines I3. One line I3 of each set intersects the lines I2 at the inner ends of the slots I I in an edge portion of the body In and the other lines I3 of the sets intersect or cross the slots I I. This relationship between the lines I2 and I3 of folding or scoring is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. One set comprises two substantially parallel lines I3 and the other set preferably comprises three substantially parallel lines I 3. It will be observed that the other lines I3 of folding extend in parallel relation to the adjacent body edges I6 and traverse or extend across the above-mentioned tabs or flaps II and corner body portions I8. These outer lines I3 of scoring allow the flaps I1 and the corner portions I8 to be easily folded or bent as will be subsequently described. The lines I3 of one set may be in closer relation than the lines I3 of the other set or pair. In the drawings the several lines of The folding or scoring provided on the body III are shown as broken lines to better distinguish them from the cuts or slots I I and I4.

The cuts or slots I4 are located to provide the body I0 with securing or attaching straps I5. 5 There are preferably two slots I4 entering the body I 0 from adjacent two diagonally related corners of the body. The slots I4 are in parallel relation to the slots II and therefore are substantially parallel to the adjacent body edges 10 I6 so that the portions of the body III between the slots I4 and the adjacent edges I6 are elonate and of substantially uniform width. These elongate portions of the body III constitute the securing or attaching strips or straps I5. In ac- 15 cordance with the invention the cuts or slots I4 are of substantial length so that the straps I5 are sufiiciently long to be employed to secure the shield or body III to furniture parts of substantial size. For this reason the cuts or slots I4 may 20 be considerably longer than the slots II. It is preferred to terminate the lines I3 of folding or scoring at the cuts or slots I4 so that th'elines do not cross the straps I5 'to weaken the straps or renderthe straps excessively flexible.

In accordance with the invention the securing or attaching straps I5 are adapted to be extended laterally or transversely from the adjacent body edges I6 and it is preferred to provide lines I9 of folding at the inner ends of the straps. The lines I9 of folding extend from the adjacent body edges IE to the inner ends of the slots I4 and are pitched or arranged at an angle to the said adjacent edges I6 so that the straps I5 may be M bent or folded out to be at substantially right "55 angles to the said edges I6. It is to be observed that the securing or attaching straps I5 are integral parts of the simple sheet-like body I0. The parts are related and formed so that the attaching straps I5 are in approximate longitudinal [I0 alignment when they are both extended and preferably lie in a medial plane of the body Ill.

The shield body I0 described above may be easily and inexpensively formed from suitable sheet material. The body I0 may be quickly cut 586 to the desired size and inexpensively provided with the several cuts or slots and the .lines of scoring. The shield body I0 is an'integral sheetlike part that may be conveniently handled and that may be readily stacked with other shields $0 of the same kind for packaging, shipping, etc.

Figs. .1, 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate the manner of employing several protective shieldsof the invention on a typica1 overstuffed or upholstered chair. The chair illustrated in the drawings includes arms 20, a back 2| and a seat cushion 22 and, of course, includes the usual frame, bottom, spring structures, etc. A shield body IO'of the character described above is arranged or draped over each chair arm 20 to have its lines I2 and slots II extend longitudinally thereof. The shield bodies I 0 are positioned so that the lines I2 of folding or scoring occur at the upper rounded portions of the arms 20 and so that the flaps IT at their forward ends protrude from the front ends of the arms. The lines I 2 allow the bodies II] to be easily bent or formed to the shape of the curved arms 20 and when the bodies II] have been shaped or bent along the lines I2 they fully conform to the upper portions of the chair arms. From an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that large edge portions 24 of the bodies Ill, located between the outermost lines I2 and the parallel body edges I6, cover and protect large parts of the in- 7-6 her and outer sides of the chair arms 28. The flaps I! at the forward ends of the shieldsare bent downwardly along the most convenient line I3 to lie flat against the forward faces of the chair arms 20. The flaps IT at the forward ends of the chair arms 28 are preferably arranged in overlapping relation and it may be preferred to arrange the centra1 flaps outermost to better retain the other tabs in place. When the flaps I have been folded and lapped together adhesive tapes 25 are arranged across the outer flaps and are arranged to extend onto the bodies II] to opposite sides of the chair arms 28. The adhesive tapes 25 serve to dependably retain the tabs or flaps I! in position. It is to be noted that the flaps I'I effectively cover the upper forward face portions of the chair arms 28 and that the shields fully protect the forward upper corners of the arms.

The largest corner portions I8 of the bodies I8 occurring at the forward ends of the arms 28 are made to lie against the forward faces of the arms 28 by bending the bodies along the most convenient lines I3. Fig. l of the drawings illustrates the manner in which these corner portions I8 of the bodies It cover and protect substantial portions of the front faces of the chair arms 29. The flaps H at the rear ends of the bodies I8 may be flared or folded out along the most convenient lines I3 to conform to or lie against the front face of the chair back 2| and the side faces of the chair back. The rear corner portions I8 of the bodies I8 may be made to lie against the front face of the chair back 2| and against the rear face of the chair back. The manner in which the flaps I'I are held against the chair back 2| will be hereinafter described.

The straps I5 of the shield bodies), that are arranged on the chair arms 28, may be employed to dependably retain the shields on the chair. The straps I5 occurring at the outer sides of the chair arms 28 are made to extend downwardly across the outer sides of the arms by folding the shields along the lines IS. The lower parts of these outer straps I5 are turned in at the under side of the chair and these turned-in parts are tacked or otherwise secured to the chair frame. The straps I5 that occur at the inner sides of the chair arms 28 are extended or projected to extend downwardly on the inner faces of the arms and their lower parts are then turned inwardly to lie against the chair bottom. The seat cushion 22 rests down against these in-turned parts of the straps I5 to retain the straps in place. The cushion 22 is retained in the chair in the manner to be hereinafter described.

It will be noted that the straps I5 at the opposite sides of the bodies I8 hold the shields down on the chair arms 28. The lines of bending or scoring I2 allow the bodies I8 to be shaped to conform to the particular curvature of the arms 2e. For example, where the arms 28 have an outward or lateral curvature, as illustrated in the drawings, the lines I2 allow the bodies to be trained over the laterally curved arms to fully protect their upper portions. The lapped or intermeshing flaps I! held together at the front ends of the arms 28 assist the straps I5 in holding the bodies 58 on th'arms. It will be observed that the bodies ID are dependably secured to or retained on the chair arms without employing fastening devices that mar or enter the fabric of the upholstered chair.

A protective device or shield of the invention is shown arranged in place on the back 2| of the chair. The body ID or the shield is laid on the top of the chair back 2| and bent along its lines I2 to engage over the top and have its major side portions 24 he against the front and rear faces of the back. The body I8 is bent along the desired Or convenient lines I3 to have its flaps I'I engage down over the opposite sides of the chair back 2|. The spaced adjacent lines I3 of scoring allow the flaps I! to be trained over the rounded upper corners of the chair back 2|. If desired or found practical the large corner flaps or corner portions I8 may be engaged against the opposite sides of the chair back 2| to cover and protect substantial portions of the same. The flaps I1 and, if necessary, the corner portions I8 may be retained in place by adhesive tapes 21. The tapes 2'! may continue across the lapped or adjacent flaps IT to have their end portions at the front and back parts of the shield body I8.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the front major portion of the body I8, trained over the chair back 2|, overlaps or engages over certain of the rear flaps II of the shield bodies I0 arranged on the chair arms 28. This engagement assists in retaining the shields or bodies II] on the chair arms 23. The strap 55 on the rear portion of the shield body ID is trained down across the rear face of the chair back 2| and its lower portion is turned in under the frame of the chair. Thus turned-in lower portion of the strap I5 may be secured to the chair frame by tacks, or the like. The strap I5 on the forward portion of the body I8 is trained down across the front face of the chair back 2| and its lower portion is bent forwardly to be under the seat cushion 22. The cushion 22 thus serves to hold the forward strap I5 in place and assists in securing the backprotecting shield to the chair.

It will be observed that the shield of the in vention arranged on the chair back 2|, as just described, fully covers the top of the back 2| and the upper corner portions of the back and extends down over substantial parts of the front and rear faces of the back. Thus the shield adequately protects the various edges, corners, etc., of the back 2| and substantial face portions of the back.

The invention provides novel means for retaining the seat cushion 22 in place, so that the cushion in turn holds the straps I5 against displacement. The cushion 22 is retained in place by a strip or band 28 of tape, canvas, burlap, or other suitable fabric. The band 28 is arranged across the upper face of the cushion 22 and its rear portion is trained down between the cushion 22 and the chair back 2|. The rear end part of the band 28 is rolled about a body of batting 29, or the like, and this rolled portion of the band is introduced between the bottom spring structure 38 and the back spring structure 3| of the chair. As best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the spring structure 38 is covered by fabric 32 and the spring structure 3| is covered by fabric 33. Prior to the arrangement of the cushion 22 in the chair the rolled end portion of the band 28 enclosing the batting 29 is pushed down between the engaging parts of the fabric 32 and 33. In arranging the lower part of the band 28 in place the spring structures 30 and 3| yield or part and when the Workman applying the band removes his hand the spring structures return to their original positions so that 'the rolled-up end of the band 28 is gripped or held between the spring structures. The cushion 22 is then arranged in place and the band 28 is trained across its upper side and down across the front of the chair. The forward end portion of the band 28 is turned under the frame of the chair and may be tacked or otherwise secured to the chair frame. It is believed that it will be apparent how the band'28 arranged as just described holds the seat cushion 22 in place and how the cushion 22 in turn holds the adjacent or inner shield straps 15 down to assist in retaining their respective shield bodies ill on the chair.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have illustrated the guards or shields of the invention arranged on a portion of a typical overstuffed or upholstered davenport. The arms of the davenport may be provided or covered with the shields in the same manner as the arms 20 of the chair illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, and the seat cushions 30 of the davenport may be held in place by the bands 28 in the same manner as the chair cushion 22.

The bodies ID of two or more of the shields may be arranged or draped over the back 3| of the davenport. The flaps I! and, if desired, the corner portions [8 of the shields occurring at the ends of the back 2| may be bent down over the said ends and secured in place by adhesive tapes 32 to protect the ends of the back 3|. The large major portions 24 of the'shield bodies I extend down over substantial portions of the front and rear faces of the davenport back 3|. The straps I5 at the rear face of the back 3| may be trained down across the back and tacked to the davenport frame. The straps l5 at the forward face of the back 3| may be trained down across the back and turned under or forwardly to be held down by the cushions 30.

The adjacent ends of the aligned shield bodies ID on the davenport back 3| may be arranged in overlapping relation and, if desired, their flaps I! may be arranged in intermeshing relation. One or more lengths of adhesive tape 33 may be arranged across the overlapping or intermeshing flaps ll to hold them in place and to connect the adjacent shields. If desired or found necessary slots or cuts 34 may be formed in the large corner portions l8 at the adjoining ends of the shield bodies ID to facilitate the overlapping or intermeshing of the shield parts. The shield bodies ID are dependably held on the davenport back 3! by their straps l5 and by the engagement of their flaps I! about the opposite end portions of the back 3|.

Fig. '5 of the drawings illustrates a shield of the invention arranged on the arm 35 of a davenport or chair to protect the same. The arm 35 has a concave upper side or top. The shield body l0 may be arranged on the arm 35 in the same manner as in the previously described applications of the invention. In order to adapt the shield body to the arm 35 one or more cuts 38 may be provided in the body H] in transverse relation to the bend lines or lines l2 of scoring. These cuts 38 may, if necessary, intersect the lines l2 and allow the depending portions of the body ID to be extended longitudinally and shaped to the arm 35 Without distortion. The straps l5 may be employed to hold the shield body It) on the arm 38 and the flaps I1 and the corner portion l8 may be arranged across the front of the arm 35, all described above.

It is believed that it will be understood how the furniture shields of the invention may be employed on various articles of furniture. The shields are constructed so that they may be easily and quickly arranged in place on a part of furniture of practically any configuration. The shields may be applied to and secured to the furniture without in any way injuring or defacing the furniture. In a like manner the shields may be easily and quickly removed from the furniture. To remove a shield its straps l5 are cut or pulled loose and this frees the shield for easy removal from the article of furniture. The shields of the invention may be shaped or trained to extend about the ends, edges, and corners of the furniture articles to adequately protect the same against blows, dirt, rubbing, etc. The shields are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and are convenient to handle.

Having described only a typical preferred form and typical preferred applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shield for protecting an article of furniture comprising a sheet-like body having a series of fold lines whereby it may be draped over said article and having slits in substantially parallel relation to the said lines and in adjacent relation to opposite edges of the body and extending in opposite directions to terminate at the other edges of the body adjacent diagonally related corners of the body and defining straps laterally projectable from said other edges for securing the body to the article.

2. A shield for protecting an article of furniture comprising a sheet-like body having a series of fold lines whereby it may be draped over said article and having slots substantially parallel with the said lines and extending in opposite directions to opposite ends of the body in spaced adjacent relation to other ends of the body to define straps capable of lateral projection from said other ends for securing the body to the said article.

3. A shield for protecting an article of furniture comprising a sheet-like body having a series of fold lines whereby it may be draped over said article, having series of slots extending inwardly from opposite ends of the body to define flaps for engagement over ends of the said article, and having cuts extending inwardly from said ends of the body in adjacent relation to the other ends of the body defining straps capable of lateral extension from the said other ends to secure the body to the article.

4. A shield for protecting an article of furniture comprising a sheet-like body having a series of fold lines whereby it may be draped over said article, having series of slots extending inwardly from opposite ends of the body to define flaps for engagement over ends of the said article, having bend lines transverse of said slots to facilitate the engagement of the flaps over the ends of the article, and having cuts extending inwardly from said ends of the body in adjacent relation to the other ends of the body defining straps capable of lateral extension from the said other ends to secure the body to the article.

ORRIAN A. SMITH. 

